The Republican journal., 1887-12-01
The Oldest City in Mexico.
TtiA. THE ANCIENT CRADLE OF THE RACE
correspondence of the Journal1

TrLA, THE ANCIENT CRADLE OF THE RACE.
correspondence of the Journal
TULA. MENICo. Nov. 18th, 1887. According
to the Persian poet. Saatli. there was once a
tribe of Armenans. none of whose people
We're ever known to die the natural death.
oncc every year. on Il certain festival day.
when the entire population was engaged in
sports. many individuals would suddenly pause
IN their occupations. make an obesancc to the
west. and. drawn by some mysterious power,
start OF in tn direction Of the setting sun and
disappear. TO he 10 more forever.
Somewhat after This fashion. on IA certain
great feSto day in the City of Mexico, we
were suddenly seized by the rowing impulse.
ha'c our friends a ha>iy 0}ios. and disappear
ed-temporarily. at least. AMI so we came to
TGia. one OF the oldest Inhabited cities in the
WorId-So cid. in fact. that the date of its
founding is lo>l III ob>curity.
To reach Tuia you 20 northward from the
City of Mexico about fifty miles. via. the McXi-
can Central railroad through the great Span
i-H drainage rat called III Tajo lie Nochistonso;
through iht quaint suburban villages 4Atz-
captSacp, IMInepaulia, Cuautitan and Hue
hue;ora crossing the ridge of mountains that
forms the outHrm0st barrier around the Valley
Of McNirC-aild reach our destination within
six hours Of liz time Of starting.
Beautiful ! MIA. Though gra. With age and
Wrnkled with traditions. no lou can describe
ltr exceeding lirtUre>qucuc>s and the iuhetih-
able glamour ~ romance which hangs about
the place. Surrounded on all sides by hills of
basaltic roth, The compact little town is built
of stones is%cn from the ruins Of ancient
cities. over The door OF insignificant pal-
qneirtS. and in he walls Of many lowly homes,
one may lind blocks Of bas;tlt covered with re-
!racNahlc cary im~s-toads, croc0diles, serpents,
plitMed warriors and tndecipherabc herogly
lhirs-wroEg}d III ihc morning OF time by
some forgnttcH peoilc.
A. for modern Tula. nearly three centuries
and a half 40 il wt~ a city OF considerable iui-
pUItauce to i!lt. Spanish invaders: aud here
wa hiiit i.;'ir most imposing cathedral. which
d;ita--atco cortiiilg to an Inscription OIL the vail
from the yrar l.,.ii. II is Il ~uperh structure.
with lofty -r;tia'd ceilings. and rich paintings
which pr>>o~* merit a~ well as antiquity. Is
pcria!iy "iie II tiic VIRGIN. supporting tie dead
Christ. j. really remarkable. On her beautiful
face Hil ilI9 ply. :-g"GN and warming love oi
mothers h'er'iin- hcaii agr admirably depict
ed.
A't tile tAurcl.y~ Of t.iat r-tio,l-;inon.:
" hith tti> Of 'iuia j. most famous wcr.
Ws"rHNd with iiunnr"u> paintings hy ihr most
Gi-l lllani-A"l spanish masters. same Of thein
~tii exist. 1o!LilN al Mcan:,o. EuernHvari.
Mesttlan, IrpoHtlan. srullnan an AyHclpi>tia.
The iuia rhurrn j~ surrounded by hgA "a!.
with lovers aHd lou Ii-hulcs. which served for
tHfcnce Ia tl"~e days when >aNrt tIarie- were
also forts and houses # refuge.
'i'he ncar-l.y Rio l'nla runs half around the
town, and the railroad crosses it over An old
stone bridge, arche,i and with Il parapct which
bears ~ inscription Hfar fAl !t- stating tht.
il W. ,rrttci in II72. There j. pleasant
!itte plaza t'niHin9 rar,lcn Of ilnwcrs.
with q fot'HJaia hll'i'jiDg up IN The center oi
stone Na T.. IN It rccier Of the plaza j.
small t'oN r. il!., .aarie-l by Il couple of
brDfUpHAiiu. iiGiri- ..lpl through he heavy